Fire-alarm system



2 Sheets-Shea?, il

0- E" Zenb/efr uvam-rosa 0. E. LEINES FIRE ALARM SYSTEM v sept. 21 1926.

Filed March 15, 1924 WITNESS:

O. E. LEINES FIRE ALARM SYSTEM sept. v21 1926.

Filed March l5. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESS:

Patented Sept. 2l, 1926.

umn-:u sTAres om)1 Lamas, er WINNIPEG, Mmmm, CANADA.

FIRE-ALARM SYSTEM.

. application niedxarch 15, 1924. serial No. 699,521.

This invention relates to fire alarm apparatus and has for its object the provision ot a novel thermostatic circuit closer which will operate to close the-circuit through an alarm device when the temperature Within a room or Ibuildingto be protected reaches a certain degree.

An important objectis the provision `of a circuit closer of this character which is so arranged that it maybe caused to operate` at any `desired temperature. ka peculiar and novel adjustment being'provided for this purpose.

An additional ob'ect is the provision of a device of this c aracter which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, eas-y vto install, positive in" action, efficient and durable in service and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the details ot construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in 25 which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of my circuit closer,

Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 2 2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a side elevation looking toward the supporting rod for the adjustable element,

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4 4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view ot the clamp carryingythe movable contact and Figure 6 is a diagram of the electic circuit.

Referring more particularly to the drawing I have shown the device as comprising a supporting base 10 which is of insulating material and which may be a piece of Wood, fiber or the like and which is provided with suitable holes 11 for the passage of nails, screws or the like whereby the device may be fastened upon the wall or other location in a building or room to be protected. Mounted on this base is a thermometer tube 12 held in place by suitable brackets 13 and terminating at its lower end in a bulb 14 of any desired size and shape. The tube has the usual bore 15 and contains mercury Which rises in the bore in accordance with the expansive effect produced by the action of heat in exactly the same manner as in a thermometer.

Projecting into the bore of the tube near its juncture with the bulb is a Contact 16 and projecting thereinto at spaced points throughout its length are similar contacts 17r While at the upper end is another 18 ot the same type. All ot these contacts may be screws, plugs or their equivalents and connected With the Contact 16 is a Wire 19 which is brought out to a binding post 20 on the base. The Contact 18 is connected with a binding post 21 on the base. The

r Contact 16 is always in engagement with the mercury 22 in the bulb and tube and the other contacts 17 and 18 are successively engaged thereby as the mercury rises in the tube When it expands on account of a rise in temperature.y

Mounted in suitable brackets 28 at the opposite vvedge of the base is a rod 24 on which is engaged a clamp designated broadly by the numeral 25 Which may be set at any desired point on the rod. This clamp includes a pair of clamping arms 26 which are formed to grip the rod and which have thumb pieces 27 adapted to be squeezed together to cause the jaws at the ends ot the arms to be moved apart so that the clamp may be adjusted along the rod. Carried by this clamp is an elongated spring contact 28 adapted to be engaged against any desired one of the contacts 17, and also carried by the clamp is a short spring 29 which bears against the base for the purpose of prventing the clamp from tilting on the ro In the use of the device a Wire 30 is connected with a battery or other source of current 31 and is connected with the binding post 20. Connected With a binding post 31 at the top of the rod 24 is a Wire 32 which leads to one terminal of an alarm device which in the present instance is shown as a bell 33. Leading from the bell is a Wire 34 connected With the other terminal of the battery. This is intended to be the local alarm. Connected With the binding post 21 is a Wire 35 which may be led to the city or township fire alarm signal system.

In the operation it is evident that in case of ire the heat Will cause the mercury to expand and rise Within the tube 12. lVhen the mercury touches the contact 17 engaged by the spring 28, it is evident that the circuit will be closed from the battery, through the Wire 31, binding post 20, column of mercury, contact 17 engaged thereby, spring QS, clamp rod 24, and wire 28 through the bell or other signal 33 and back to the battery. In case the mercury reaches the contact 1S which indicates a critical condition the current will be fed through the wire 35 to the signal at headquarters. In installing the device in a house or other building having many rooms, it is evident that one unit should be installed in each room with all units connected in parallel in order to furnish adequate protection.

From the foregoing description and a study ot the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed and easily installed thermostatic circuit closer which is well adapted for use as a part ot a lire alarm system tor giving not only a local signal but also sounding or giving any other kind of alarm at a central station or tire head quarters. Owing to the simplicity ot' the construction and the `fewness ot' the parts it is apparent that there is very little to get out of order so that the device should have a long life and satisfactorily perform all of its functions.

`While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention it is ot' course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement ot parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

l. In a switch of the character described including an elongated member, a Contact longitudinally adjnstably engaged upon said member, said contact being formed as a split sleeve element provided with oppositely extending arms and provided with diverging wings constituting linger grips.

2. In a thermostatic switch, a thermometer tube carrying contacts, an elongated supporting rod arranged in parallel relation to the thermometer tube, and a contactv device carried by the rod and formed as a split tubular member of resilient metal Yfrictionally engaged upon the rod and provided with contact arms, said tubular member having integrally formed diverging wings constituting linger grips whereby the tubulanmember may be moved longitudinally along said rod.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

OTTO E. LEINES. 

